Reshaping device for shoes



Dec. 5, 1950 A; w. MOKAY- RESHAPING DEVICE FOR SHOES Filed Jan. 31, 1949 INVENTOR firlkuz ZU. M JKay ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED .srarss PATENT OFFICE I 2,532,564 nn'snzmmomzvrcsronsnoas ArthurfW. McKay,'Sacrament-o, Calif.

Application. January 31, 1949, Serial No. 73,741

11-01mm. (o1. 12-51 This invention-relates to, and ibis-18,11 object to provide; a shoe reshaping device or" shoe crimp 'of novel structure and functiomthe'device being operative to'raise and crimpa shoe portion to the required shape.

Frequently a person's footis'abnormally high in the instep and the throat of the vamp of a shoe presses and cuts into the flesh of the foot. This is especially true in womens'shoes. Ordinary stretching of the shoe, for a person with a high instep, merely permits the'foot .to slip further down into the shoe, and the throat of the vamp presses and cuts into the-"fleshto a greater extent. Heretofore known methods usedto overcome the difiiculty fail in their purpose because the shoe is only raised or stretched, 'and the offending part of the shoe is not permanently shaped or crimped to fit the fleshy part of the instep,

It is therefore another object'of the'invention to provide a shoe reshaping device which imparts a desired and permanent shape or crimp to the throat of the vamp of a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe reshaping device, for the purpose described, which includes a headed mandrel of novel configuration; such mandrel being internally and electrically heated for accomplishing the crimping of the shoe part when the latter is worked over the headed portion of the mandrel.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a shoe reshaping device, as above, wherein the mandrel is mounted in a novel manner for ready and convenient access.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a reshaping device for shoes which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable reshaping device for shoes, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the device as in use.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the device showing particularly the wiring arrangement for the electric heatingunit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a horizontal, forwardly projecting nose 2 or mandrel l, which mandrel is elongated, as shown. 'Themandrel l is circular in cross'section and of substantial diameter; the forward portion of said mandrel tapering slightly, as at 2. At its forward end the mandrel is formed, in integral relation, with an enlarged rounded head 3,-which forms-'between said head and the mandrel |'a rounded cradle 4. This rounded cradle 4, particularly at the upperportion of the device, is the primary working surface for shoe engagement, as will hereinafter appear. At its inner end the elongated mandrel I is formed, in integral relation, with a'hollow base 5 of 'frusto-conical configuration; said base being hollow to form a'chamber 6 which isin-communication with an internal bore 1 which extends through the mandrel l into the enlarged rounded head 3'. At its rear end the hollow base 5 includes a threaded neck 8 which screws into a tapped boss 9 centrally on, and'projecting forwardly from, a rectangular mounting block I B; the latter preferably being of dielectric and heat resistant material.

The mounting block II] is adapted to be rigidly secured in a vertical posit on, a ainst a wall or the like; such mounting block being formed at the corners with holes H for the reception of securing screws.

An elongated, cylindrical electric heating unit I2 is disposed in the bore I of mandrel l, and extends full length of said bore with an easy fit as shown, so as not to interfere with any expansion due to heat, or the removal of said element from the mandrel if necessary.

The electric heating unit i2 is adapted to be energized by means of an electric current supply circuit of two-wire type; the wires being indicated at [3 and Hi.

The circuit wires l3 and I4 lead from the rear end of the electric heating unit I2 into the chamber 6; the wire l3 having a heat regulator or thermostat f5 interposed therein. Said heat regulator or thermostat I5 is mounted in the chamber 6 closely adjacent the rear end of the electric heating unit l2. From the chamber 6 the circuit wires l3 and [4 lead into a lateral passage ]6 formed in the mounting block l0; said passage opening at its inner end to the chamber 5, and opening at its outer end through one side of said block l9. From the lateral passage 18 the circuit wires l3 and I4 extend to connection with an electric current supply source.

Laterally of the mandrel i', and in front of the passage IS, the mounting block In is fitted with a small dielectric panel H which supports a snap switch l8 and an indicator lamp I9. The snap switch l8 and indicator lamp l9 are interposed in series in the wire M; the switch l8 serving to control on and off operation of the device, and the lamp |9 serving to indicate whether or not the device is in operation.

When the device is in operation, with the mandrel l' and enlarged rounded head 3 heated by the electric heating unit I2, the throat of a vamp of a shoe is'raised and crimped as follows:

The shoe 20 is disposed generally in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the enlarged rounded head 3 projecting into said shoe so that the throat 2| of the vamp of the shoe rests atop the rounded cradle 4. With the shoe in this position it is manually Worked by pulling outwardly and downwardly thereon, with simultaneous semi-circular motion.

With this action the rounded cradle 4 imposes both heat and pressure on the throat 2| of the shoe, imparting an outbend thereto, permanently crimping said throat to such shape. In this way the throat 2| of a shoe, especially a womans shoe, may be shaped so that said throat is comfortable on the foot and does not cut into the flesh of the instep.

Additionally, by applying a small quantity of water tothe side lines of a woman's shoe, and then rolling the shoe over the heated mandrel i, that part of the material of the shoe which comes into contact with said mandrel will shrink. In this manner a further adjustment or reshaping of a shoe can be accomplished.-

The described device is quite practical and convenient to use; and the mounting isisuch that the device is rigid; as is necessary to effectively accomplish the desired purpose. 1

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a de-' vice as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

Ina shoe reshaping device Which includes an elongated mandrel having an enlarged rounded shoe-engaging head on its outer end, a supporting block for the mandrel adapted to be secured against a vertical surface, a ring-like boss projecting from the outer face of the block, the latter having a wire-passage. leading to said outerface within the boss, an enlarged base on the mandrel removably engaged with the boss,

the mandrel having an enlarged chamber in the base extending to the 'outer end thereof and a smaller cylindrical bore extending in the mandrel to thehe'ad from the inner end of the chamber,

"a cylindrical heating'element in the bore and ci'r cuit wiring leadingfrom. the element into the block passage; there being a thermostat interposed in'said wiring within the base chamber,

" v ARTHUR W. McKAY.

REFERENCES CITED 'Ifh'e following references are of record inthe file of this patent'q' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name Date 12,028,321 :Dun Jan. 21, 193 2,086,917 'Lattemann July 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date --'692,883 Germany June 28, 1940 

